Chapter 14: The New Atom and the Pen
Starling City was, as usual, a hotbed of corporate intrigue and masked vigilantism. But now, there was a new player in town, a beacon of optimism and scientific brilliance: Ray Palmer. Arrow S03E04: "The Magician" and S03E07: "Draw Back Your Bow" were unfolding, and Adam knew this was his chance to meet the man who would become The Atom.
He found Ray Palmer in Felicity's office, a whirlwind of boundless energy, grand ideas, and an almost alarming level of enthusiasm. Ray was trying to convince Felicity to join his company, Palmer Technologies, and his sheer optimism was almost blinding in the perpetually grim Arrowverse.
"Oh, Ray Palmer. The human embodiment of sunshine and good intentions. He's like a golden retriever in a suit. And he's about to become Oliver's new rival for Felicity's attention. This is going to be hilarious."
"Mr. Palmer, I presume?" Adam said, extending his hand with a charming smile. "Adam Stiels. And let me tell you, your enthusiasm is so infectious, I think I just caught a case of 'optimism fever.' Do you have a cure for that? Or just, like, a really good blueprint for a giant robot suit?"
Ray's eyes lit up. "A giant robot suit! You get it! Everyone else just looks at me like I'm crazy!"
"Crazy is the new normal, my friend," Adam declared, shaking his hand. "Besides, who wouldn't want a giant robot suit? Think of the possibilities! Fighting crime! Getting groceries! Winning arguments with Oliver Queen!" He winked at Felicity, who was trying, and failing, to stifle a giggle.
Oliver, who had just walked in, heard the last part. His eyes narrowed. "Adam."
"Oliver! Just in time! We were just discussing the merits of giant robot suits versus, you know, brooding in a dark basement," Adam said cheerfully. "Ray here is a genius. A true visionary. And he's got plans for a suit that will make your little bow and arrow look like a child's toy. No offense." He patted Oliver on the shoulder.
Oliver looked from Adam to Ray, then back to Felicity, a storm brewing in his eyes. The rivalry was about to get a new, more technologically advanced layer.
Oliver (POV): First Adam, now Ray Palmer. Both of them seemed to have an uncanny ability to make Felicity laugh, a feat Oliver rarely managed. And now they were bonding over "giant robot suits" and "optimism fever." It was infuriating. He was the hero. He was the one who saved the city. Why did everyone else get to have all the fun? And why did Adam always have to make him feel like a grumpy old man?
Adam and Ray immediately launched into a rapid-fire discussion about theoretical physics, advanced engineering, and the sheer coolness of shrinking technology. Felicity, caught between them, looked like a proud parent watching her two brilliant, slightly unhinged children.
"So, the A.T.O.M. suit, huh?" Adam mused, pulling out his Pen of Creation. "Very ambitious. Very cool. But you know, I was just thinking, about the micro-servo actuators. If you tweaked the resonance frequency just slightly, you could get a much more efficient power transfer. Like this."
He quickly sketched a complex, detailed diagram on a napkin, showing a modified design for a crucial component of the A.T.O.M. suit. He made it look like he was just doodling, but in reality, the Pen was doing all the heavy lifting.
[PEN OF CREATION USED. COST: 15 NON-PLP (COMPLEX DESIGN).]
"Fifteen LP for a crucial component? That's practically free! I'm basically a venture capitalist for superheroes. And I get to watch them build cool stuff. This is the life."
Ray's eyes widened as he saw the drawing. He snatched the napkin, his mind racing. "Adam! That's brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?! It would revolutionize the power transfer! You're a genius!"
"Oh, you know, just a lucky guess," Adam said, shrugging modestly. "Sometimes, the universe just whispers answers into my ear. Usually when I'm trying to figure out what to order for dinner. But hey, I'll take it."
Oliver, watching the exchange, just shook his head. He had no idea what Adam was talking about, but he knew that Ray Palmer, like Adam, was now firmly in Felicity's orbit. And that, for Oliver, was a problem.
[MISSION COMPLETE: THE MAGICIAN. REWARD: 200 NON-PLP.]
"Two hundred LP for being a scientific muse? This System is truly a gift. Now, if only it could help me figure out how to get Oliver to smile. That might be worth, like, a million LP."
Adam grinned, a genuine sense of satisfaction filling him. He enjoyed helping Ray, enjoyed the intellectual sparring, and enjoyed the subtle chaos he brought to Oliver's meticulously organized life. The A.T.O.M. suit was one step closer to reality, and Adam Stiels was, as usual, at the heart of it all.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 440. PLP: 4.
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